Head protector

ABSTRACT

A HEAD PROTECTOR CONSTRUCTED OF A FIRST PANEL ADAPTED TO COVER THE REAR HALF OF THE HEAD AND EXTENDING REARWARD TO COVER THE COLLAR OF THE WEARER, A SECOND PANEL ATTACHED TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE FIRST PANEL AND ADAPTED TO COVER THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HEAD AND A THIRD PANEL WHICH IS TRANSPARENT AND PLEATED AND ADAPTED TO BE SE-   LECTIVELY PULLED DOWN OVER THE BANGS AND FOREHEAD FOR PROTECTION DURING WIND OR WIND-DRIVEN RAIN.

- 'Feb.,9; 1971 R.VG.'IGREGG BED PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 7, 1969 Richard G. Gregg,

INVENTOR BY f ' ORNEY United States Patent 3,561,011 HEAD PROTECTOR Richard G. Gregg, 2410 Holmes Ave., Huntsville, Ala. 35805 Filed Nov. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 874,863 Int. Cl. A42b 1/06, 1/20 US. Cl. 2-204 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to head wear adapted to be worn by women to protect their coilfures and more particularly it relates to a rain cap or rainbonnet which can be worn to provide an effective protective covering to protect head and coiffure from rain, snow, sleet and wind, and is also attractive.

Outdoor head protectors for women are in themselves well known and a number of different varieties have been marketed in the past, particularly for use in protecting womens coiifures. In general, however, they have suffered from one or the other of two principal difficulties. Either, to be effective, they must tie down on the head so closely as to be uncomfortable and tend to mash a coiffure or they are ineffective, having open peripherial regions which tend to catch wind and lift the protector causing it to disarrange the hair style. It is further believed that in many instances existing protectors are not adaptable to different weather conditions such as the presence or absence of a strong wind or blowing rain. Further, it is believed that they lack in both convenience while in use and convenience in storage when not in use.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved head protector in the form of a bonnet or cap which can be worn to protect the head and hair style of the wearer from wind and moisture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an effective head protector which is both comfortable and secure on the head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hair protector adapted to provide protection for the forehead and bangs when necessary and which is readily folded up when this protection is unnecessary.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a protector which gives all-around protection including protection extending rearward over the collar of the wearer without being unsecure on the head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a protector which readily and conveniently folds for storage.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a protector which is adapted to reduce the effect of wind tending to lift the protector and disarrange a hair style.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a light but strong and durable protector.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a head protector and hair protector with the functional features described and at the same time a protector which is attractive and fashionable.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description when considered together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the head protector of the present invention as worn;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the head protector with the protector unattached to a wearer;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a head protector with the parts laid flat;

FIG. 4 is a partial section view along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial section view similar to FIG. 4 with pleated panel lowered.

Referring now to the drawings, the cap or rainbonnet shown is generally designated by numeral -10 and illustrated on wearer 12. The body of the cap is constructed of and sewn together as flat panels. A first or rear panel 14 is adapted to extend in use, from a point to the rear of the back collar of the wearer forward and upward to the crown of the head to cover approximately the back half of the head and back of the neck of the wearer. A second or central panel 16 covers approximately the front half of the head, extending forward from the crown of the head to a line around the head which generally conforms to the top of the forehead. Central panel 16 is sewn at top edge 18 to a top edge 20 of rear panel 14. A third and pleated panel 22 is attached to the lower back edge 24 of central panel 16, and is attached to central panel 16 by sewing or otherwise attaching the upper edge 26 and ends 28 and 30 of the top pleat 32 to the lower back edge 24 of central panel 16. Ties or tie panels 34 and 36 are sewn to side edges 38 and 40, respectively, of rear panel 14. Rear panel 14 and central panel 16 are constructed of a bonded or laminated material consisting of polyethylene and tricot material which provides a light but sturdy and waterproof protection. Pleated panel 22 is constructed of a thin plastic material which is transparent.

As a particular feature of this invention, pleated panel 22 rests or is stored in the folded position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. When desired it is pulled down over the top portion of the face, bangs and forehead as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. In this position it provides the wearer excellent protection against wind and driven rain. When not required for protection the pleated panel is quickly retractable to the folded position by simply applying tension between ends 28 and 30. No actual folding operation with the hands is required.

Rear panel 14 is constructed generally oval in configuration with the long axis extending from side to side with respect to the wearer. Top edge 20 of rear panel 14 has a smaller degree of curvature than the lower edge 42 ofv rear panel 14 and this permits and causes lower edge 42 of the rear panel to extend further to the rear of the collar of the wearer giving substantial protection to the neck and preventing rain from running down the neck of the wearer. In addition, lower edge 42 of rear panel 14 includes slightly concave edge portions 44 and 46, each side of the central edge portion 48 which permits the lower edge of the cap to conform to the shoulders of the wearer and permits the rear portion of the cap to extend below the shoulders of the wearer for added protection of the back of the neck. Tie panels 34 and 36 are triangular in shape and are constructed of a folded layer of soft tricot material and serve to provide a comfortable, non-scratching means of tying and securing the cap on the head.

What is claimed is:

1. A head protector for protecting the hair, forehead and back of the neck of the wearer from weather comprising:

(A) a generally oval shaped rear panel of flexible,

moisture impervious, material, the long dimension of which extends, in use, around the rear and sides of the head, from side to side, and the short dimension of which extends in use from a point back of the rear collar of the wearer forward and upward to a point corresponding approximately to the crown of the head of the wearer;

(B) a central panel of flexible moisture impervious material conforming to an upper portion of said rear panel, an upper curved edge of said central panel being attached to an upper conforming curved edge of said rear panel, wherein when said cap is placed on the head said central panel covers a central portion of the head from side to side;

(C) an elongated panel, a top edge of which is attached to and extends from side to side across the lower edge of said central panel and side edges of said elongated panel being secured to another said panel whereby said elongated panel may be unfolded down over the forehead when desired; and

(D) a pair of elongated tie panels, each extending from a side edge of said rear panel and adapted to tie together under the chin of the wearer to hold the protector on the head.

2. A head protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower edge of said rear panel is of increased curvature compared to the opposite top edge of said rear panel, whereby said rear panel extends outward from the back of the head over the collar of the wearer.

3. A head protector as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lower edge of said rear panel has concave edge regions each side of a central edge region whereby the bottom edge of said rear panel conforms to and is accommodated on the shoulders of the wearer.

4. A head protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated panel is a pleated panel, a top edge of which is attached to and extends from side to side across the lower edge of said central panel and pleated side edges of said elongated panel being secured to said central panel to form multiple pleated layers of material whereby said elongated panel may be unfolded to pull down over the forehead when desired and may be returned to a folded position by simply applying tension between said side edges.

5. A head protector as set forth in claim 4 wherein said elongated panel is secured to the inner side of said central panel.

6. A head protector as set forth in claim 4 wherein the lower edge of said rear panel is of increased curvature compared to the opposite top edge of said rear panel whereby said rear panel extends outward from the back of the head over the collar of the wearer.

7. A head protector as set forth in claim 6 wherein the lower edge of said rear panel has concave edge regions each side of a central edge region whereby the bottom edge of said rear panel conforms to and is accommodated on the shoulders of the wearer.

8. A head protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said central panel conforms to an upper section of said rear panel by being cut along a line generally parallel to the long dimension of said rear panel and wherein the surface of said rear and central panels naturally lie flat when said head protector is not in use.

9. A head protector as set forth in claim 8 wherein the lower edge of said rear panel is of increased curvature compared to the opposite top edge of said rear panel, whereby said rear panel extends outward from the back of the head over the collar of the wearer.

10. A head protector as set forth in claim 9 wherein the lower edge of said rear panel has concave edge regions each side of a central edge region whereby the bottom edge of said rear panel conforms to and is accommodated on the shoulders of the wearer.

11. A head protector as set forth in claim 10 wherein 7 said rear and central panels comprise layers of open weave material and plastic waterproof material laminated together, said tie panels are of a soft open weave material and said elongated panel is of a clear plastic material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

